November 6, 2941 (S.R. 1341)1. Elves reach Lake-town. (from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)..."...elves are light-footed, and though they were not in these days much used to the marches and the treacherous lands between the Forest and the Lake, their going was swift. Only five days after the death of the dragon they came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good... ...and the men and their Master were ready to make any bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking's aid."

2. The dwarves prepare...(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)..."The dwarves continue working on the Front Gate as Fili and Kili were coming back with 3 ponies and supplies... ...they learned that the Elvenking had turned aside to the Lake."

..."...elves are light-footed, and though they were not in these days much used to the marches and the treacherous lands between the Forest and the Lake, their going was swift. Only five days after the death of the dragon they came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good... ...and the men and their Master were ready to make any bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking's aid."

In film you rarely get a good sense for the passage of time. When we see There and Back Again in theaters (or at home) I am sure that most viewers will have the impression that the Wood-elves arrive at Lake-town only hours (or a day or two at most) after the death of Smaug. Certainly not after five days. 'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring

November 7, 2941 (S.R. 1341)1. The Dwarves take time for study.(not from the appendices-no text—just drabbles)...Surrounded by gold, silver, and gems glittering from torches hanging on the cave walls, Bilbo listened to the Dwarves' excited discoveries. They seemed to have instinctively split into small territories of treasure throughout the room until all the piles and corners were claimed. He didn't think they noticed this phenomenon. They didn't seem inclined to examine the pieces together, but shouted out or stood quietly while turning a trinket over and over in their hands. All Bilbo knew was that his feet were cold, and it spread to his nose. His thoughts, again, turned to his fireplace in Bag End.

November 7, 3022 (S.R. 1422)1. Raindrops in Valinor(not from the appendices-no text—just drabbles)...One rainy evening, Frodo sat looking out the window, his breath appearing on his reflection, then vanishing. His eyes followed one glimmering drop as it travelled from high on the pane. Its erratic trail occasionally brushed against some drops while coming into full contact with others, but rarely joining. Many drops would hang suspended, unchanged as one would pass by. Sometimes it caught on the glass's texture, then plummeted in freefall without choice but to travel in one direction. Finally, it reached the end and vanished. Frodo's thoughts turned to Sam. "There, but for the grace of you, go I."

Peter Jackson just said in the AUJ eedvd commentary that they had to adjust the timelines to move the story along, which is understandable. But when you're sitting in a dark, cold tunnel... it's a lot different ;)

I can certainly see where some changes that affected the timeline were necessary or desireable to improve the flow of the film. Others seem far more arbitrary with alternate solutions that might have worked better. For example, instead of having Azog survive to the present, his son Bolg could have been introduced earlier to serve the same function (unless Azog does not live to participate in the Battle of Five Armies--in which case I would have to withdraw my objection). Moving the original Darkening of Mirkwood forward by almost 2000 years is another questionable choice, but I can see the value of making the Necromancer a more palpable and immediate threat rather than keep him a presence that has been lurking in southern Mirkwood for centuries. 'There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.' - Gandalf the Grey, The Fellowship of the Ring

November 8, 2941 (S.R. 1341) 1. Fili and Kili return with ponies(determined from text)..."They were four days gone, and by that time they knew that the joined armies of the Lake-men and the Elves were hurrying towards the Mountain. But now their hopes were higher; for they had food for some weeks ... ...chiefly cram... ...and they were very tired of it... ...already the gate was blocked with a wall of squared stones laid dry, but very thick and high across the opening. There were holes in the wall through which they could see (or shoot) but no entrance. They climbed in or out with ladders, and hauled stuff up with ropes. For... ...the stream they had contrived a small low arch under the new wall... ...Approach to the Gate was now only possible, without swimming, along a narrow ledge of the cliff... ...The ponies they had brought only to the head of the steps above the old bridge, and unloading them there had bidden them return to the masters and sent them back riderless to the South."

November 9, 2941 (S.R. 1341) 1. With the help of the Elves, Bard arranges shelter and food for the townsfolk.(determined from text)..."Their plans were soon made. With the women and the children, the old and the unfit, the Master remained behind; and... ...men of crafts and many skilled elves; and they busied themselves felling trees, and collecting the timber sent down from the Forest... ...they set about raising many huts by the shore against the oncoming winter; and also under the Master's direction they began the planning of a new town, designed more fair and large even than before, but not in the same place. They removed northward higher up the shore; for ever after they had a dread of the water where the dragon lay... ... stretched cold as stone, twisted upon the floor of the shallows. There for ages his huge bones could be seen in calm weather amid the ruined piles of the old town. But few dared to cross the cursed spot, and none dared to dive into the shivering water or recover the precious stones that fell from his rotting carcase." 5th draft of TH:AUJ Geeky Observation List - August 11, 20131st draft of TH:DOS Geeky Observation List - August 11, 2013

"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West."